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A federal judge's ruling could put noncompete ban on hold
A nationwide ban on noncompetes is set to take effect September 4. Those are agreements that prevent employees from going to work for a competing company or launching one of their own. But legal challenges to the nationwide ban are making their way through the courts. And this week a ruling from a federal judge in Texas could put the ban on hold. NPR's Andrea Hsu talked to two people with differing hopes about how this legal fight will end.
UNC System releases guidance following DEI policy repeal
The UNC System has sent guidance to university chancellors as they make decisions on how to comply with a mandate from the UNC Board of Governors that targeted diversity, equity and inclusion offices. The letter from the legal staff at the UNC System was sent to the chancellors late last...
NC unveils plan to incentivize hospitals to forgive medical debt, beef up charity care
In an initiative that appears to be the first of its kind nationwide, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper and state health officials unveiled a plan Monday to boost federal payouts to hospitals that take specific steps to ease the burden of medical debt for low-income patients. To participate, hospitals would have...
Why 'A Family Affair' works so well as a Netflix rom-com
About seven minutes into the new Netflix romantic comedy "A Family Affair," Zac Efron, playing a conceited, not-too-bright movie star who's just broken up with his girlfriend, is whining to his assistant (played by Joey King) that she needs to pick up his stuff from the ex-girlfriend's place. He left treasured items there, he explains. He left his autographed Jordans! He left his Himalayan T-shirt! And then he says, gravely, as if it shows the urgency of the mission, "I left my copy of 'The Courage to be Disliked'." And I said, in my living room, "Ha!"
July 1 laws taking effect in states across the country
Starting today in Kansas, providers must ask patients why they are getting an abortion. A Florida law goes into effect allowing people who shoot bears on their property a "Stand Your Ground" type defense. It's July 1, so states across the country are putting new laws into effect. From reporting...
Charlotte the stingray, the would-be mom, has died at her Henderson aquarium
Charlotte, the celebrity stingray who was declared to be pregnant without a male mate earlier this year, has died at the small aquarium where she lived in North Carolina. In a previous announcement, the aquarium called her condition “a rare reproductive disease.”. “We are sad to announce, after continuing...
‘This just means so much.’ Hundreds attend 1st LGBTQ Pride in Haywood County
Hundreds of people turned out from across the region to celebrate Haywood County’s first Pride Parade in Waynesville. Town Council member Anthony Sutton wore a rainbow suit as the grand marshal of the parade. "When I was growing up and I would walk down Main Street, I thought that...
The $3.4 million question for CMS: Will teacher raises grow this fall?
When Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools took its final 2024-25 budget plan to the county, the district added $3.4 million to match what was looking like larger-than-budgeted raises for teachers and other state-paid employees. The state’s two-year budget, approved in 2023, contained raises averaging only 3%. But CMS officials concluded — and county...
Hot and dry June stifles North Carolina crops
A persistent drought across the state could have lasting impacts on North Carolina crops. The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council reports 99 counties are in some level of drought. Last month was one of the driest Junes on record. The state Climate Office reports Chapel Hill got half an...
Gastonia launches its on-demand rideshare service
The city of Gastonia has launched a new rideshare service to replace its bus system with an Uber-style app for local residents to use within the city. The new on-demand rideshare GoGastonia is available to customers Monday. The new system eliminates the entire fixed-route bus transit system and passengers can order a ride anywhere in Gastonia.
New flood disclosure rule provides NC homebuyers with property’s flood history
A new flood disclosure rule takes effect Monday in North Carolina. It makes disclosing flood history mandatory during the homebuying process. Burning fossil fuels is driving up global average temperatures and increasing inland flooding. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture and rains harder during storms. This increases flooding inside and outside federally designated floodplains.
The WNBA is having a moment. A new documentary highlights off-court player activism
Know how you can tell if women’s sports has finally broken into the American mainstream consciousness? When your 82-year-old grandmother-in-law tells you, “They’ve been showing a lot more girls basketball on television these days.”. With viewership for women’s basketball at an all-time high, "Power of the Dream"...
Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for core acts only
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, ruled that a former president has absolute immunity for his core constitutional powers — and is entitled to a presumption of immunity for his official acts, but lacks immunity for unofficial acts. But at the same time, the court sent the case back to the trial judge to determine which, if any of Trump's actions, were part of his official duties and thus were protected from prosecution.
Hurricane Beryl makes landfall with 150 mph winds on Caribbean island
The eye of Hurricane Beryl "made landfall on Carriacou Island" at 11:10 a.m. ET, bringing 150 mph winds and a dangerous storm surge to islands on the eastern edge of the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm hit the island after another round of rapid strengthening. "This is...
Why scientists who study noise pollution are calling for more regulation
Last June, an anti-noise advocacy group, Quiet Communities, sued the Environmental Protection Agency for not doing its job to limit the loud sounds people are exposed to in everyday life. The group is now waiting to hear if it will be able to argue its case in front of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
‘I’m going to be fighting harder,’ Biden tells donors after disastrous debate
President Biden had planned to spend the days after his first 2024 debate against former President Donald Trump taking a victory lap with Democratic supporters and donors. Instead, he spent the weekend doing damage control, attempting to reassure his party that he is still up to the job, after Thursday’s debate where his hoarse voice and verbal stumbles left Democrats collectively wringing their hands. His weak performance led to a chorus of calls for him to end his reelection campaign.
The second half of 2024 is here, and it's time for a comeback
The first half of 2024 leaves a lot of anxiety to come in the rest of the year. But WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says there’s still time to rally. There’s an internet meme from a few years back where a high school football...
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WFAE is Charlotte's NPR news source. We focus on local news about Charlotte and the surrounding region, as well as statewide news for North Carolina and South Carolina news. We also carry national and international news from NPR.
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